25 Oct 2021
by Stephanie Calley

A Holistic and Inclusive Model for International Student Services: Intercultural Leadership Development Programs - JCAPS Vol. 3 Issue 2

International Student Services (ISS) offices have before them an opportunity to strategically cultivate the global leaders of the future. Yet, to cultivate global leaders, a change in structure, posture, and constituency is needed. Moving beyond providing compliance and transitional services, International Student Services offices can engage as co-educators through developing their constituency with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed of future global leaders. Moreover, with this change in posture, ISS offices can play a strategic role in bridging the divide between diverse others, assisting faculty, staff, and students in becoming more interculturally engaged. Towards that end, an ISS office at a faith-based, liberal arts university in Southern California instituted a holistic and inclusive developmental model based on the high-impact intercultural practices noted in the literature. This article outlines the changes the university instituted in structure, posture, and constituency, seeking to move from the marginalization to the development of international students through an Intercultural Leadership Development Program.